Pouring reel

ABSTRACT

In a rolling mill, a pouring reel is disclosed having rotating elements defining an annular space into which a product length issuing from the mill is directed by a curved guide pipe to accumulate therein in cylindrical coil form. The exit end of the guide pipe is axially adjustable between an extended position protruding downwardly into the annular space, and a retracted position thereabove. When at the retracted position, the guide pipe is movable to a laterally remote position to permit vertical removal of a completed coil from the annular space.

United States Sieurin et al.

aterit 11 1 Mar. 25, 1975 POURING REEL [75] Inventors: Donald Sieurin, Northboro; Alfred R. Leger, Shrewsbury, both of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Morgan Construction (Iompany,

Worcester, Mass.

221 Filed: Dec.14,1973

211 Appl. No.: 424,852

[52] US. Cl. 242/82 [51] Int. Cl. B21c 47/00 [58] Field of Search 242/79, 82, 83, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,463 11/1887 Lenox 242/83 2,857,116 10/1958 Krafft I I. 242/83 2,886,258 5/1959 Haugwitz 242/82 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 4,801 11/1879 g g t g d o 242/82 Primary Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thompson, Birch, Gauthier & Samuels [57] ABSTRACT In a rolling mill, a pouring reel is disclosed having rotating elements defining an annular space into which a product length issuing from the mill is directed by a curved guide pipe to accumulate therein in cylindrical coil form. The exit end of the guide pipe is axially adjustable between an extended position protruding downwardly into the annular space, and a retracted position thereabove. When at the retracted position, the guide pipe is movable to a laterally remote position to permit vertical removal of a completed coil from the annular space.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures POURING REEL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rolling mills, and in particular to a novel and improved pouring reel for forming the product issuing from the mill into cylindrical coils.

In the conventional pouring reel installations which have heretofore been employed, the product length issuing from the mill is directed by means ofa guide pipe into a collecting tub which has an annular space defined by a rotating base and vertically extending radially spaced inner and outer rotating elements. The guide pipe remains in a fixed position throughout the coil forming operation, with its exit end overlying the annular space, and with the delivery axis of the product being such that the product is directed against the outer rotating element or elements, as the case may be, at a level above that of the rotating base. After a coil has been fully formed, the guide pipe is momentarily shifted to remove the exit end from its operative position overlying the annular space, thereby permitting the coil to be vertically removed therefrom.

Such conventional arrangements have been considered generally satisfactory for low speed mills producing relatively small coils, although coil density has always been somewhat of a problem due primarily to the fact that the product exhibits a tendency to shift back and forth between the rotating inner and outer collecting tub elements during the coil forming operation. This produces a criss-cross pattern between the inner and outer coil walls which decreases density and thus increases the height ofthe coil. Higher coil heights and lower coil densities contribute to coil instability, which in turn complicates subsequent coil handling procedures.

These problems become more acute as mill speeds and coil weights are increased, hence the need for improvement, particularly as regards modern high-speed mills designed for operation at speeds in excess of 3,200 f.p.m., with coil weights in excess of 3,000 lbs.

'It'is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved pouring reel capable offorming the product issuing from modern high-speed mills into heavy coils, with-an increase in coil density which in turn contributes to an improvement in coil stability.

Another and more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a pouring reel having an elongated downwardly curving guide pipe which is axially adjustable between an extended position at which the exit end of the pipe protrudes downwardly into the annular space defined by the rotating inner and outer collecting tub elements, and a retracted position thereabove. This feature enables larger coils to be formed in deeper collecting tubs by permitting the product to be delivered initially into the tub at a level relatively close to the tub bottom, and by thereafter gradually retracting the delivery end of the pipe as the coil height increases in the tub. By maintaining a relatively constant distance between the delivery end of the guide pipe and the top of the coil being formed throughout the coil forming operation, coil density is improved.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the dedrawings wherein:

LII

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view on a reduced scale showing a pouring reel embodying the concepts of the present invention in relation to a typical arrangement of other rolling mill equipment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in ellevation on an enlarged scale taken through the pouring reel shown in FIG. 1, with the guide pipe fully extended;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the guide pipe fully retracted;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a pouring reel embodying the concepts of the present: invention is generally indicated at 10. The pouring reel is positioned to receive product issuing from a rolling mill, the last roll stand of which is schematically indicated at 12. As the product length leaves the last roll stand, it is guided by means which may typically include a guide pipe 14, a water cooling box 16, another intermediate guide pipe 18, and then finally a flat chain guide mechanism 20, which preferably is of the type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,761,003. The pouring reel receives the rolled product from the flat chain guide mechanism 20 and collects the same into an upstanding cylindrical coil.

With reference to the remainder of the drawings, it will be seen that the pouring reel 10 includes a collecting tub 22 which in the embodiment herein illustrated, has an exterior fixed cylindrical housing 24 enclosing a rotatable horizontallydisposed base member 25. The base member supports a circular series of inner elements, herein shown as upstanding pins 26, and a cylindrical outer element which preferably consists of a wall 28. A collecting tub bottom 30, which has a series of holes 32 through which the pins 26 protrude, is mounted on an extensible post 34 in a position overly- .ing the base member 25. The post 34 extends downwardly through an aperture 36 in the base member 25. It will be understood that the base member 25 and the inner and outer elements 26 and 28 extending vertically therefrom are rotated during the coil forming operation by means (not shown) underlying the pouring reel. By the same token, it will be understood that the post 34 is axially manipulated during a coil removal operation, again by means (not shown) underlying the pouring reel. The aforementioned underlying means are well known to those skilled in the art and hence a further description thereof is not required at this time.

The inner and outer elements 26 and 28 are radially spaced to define an annular coil collecting space 38 into which the product issuing from the rolling mill is directed by means of a curved guide pipe assembly generally indicated at 40. The guide pipe assembly preferably includes a cylindrical leg, 42 which is axially mounted on an upstanding fixed post 44. Sleeve bearings 46 are interposed between the leg 42 and the fixed post 44 to accommodate rotation of the leg 42 relative to the post 44 under the influence of a hydraulic or pneumatic linear actuator 48 see FIG. 5. The linear actuator is pivotally mounted as at 50 to a bracket 52 which is secured to the outer cylindrical housing 24 of the collecting tub. The extensible piston rod 54 of the linear actuator is pivotally connected as at 56 to an arm 58 extending radially from the leg 42. Thus, it will be seen that extension and retraction of the piston rod 54 will result in the leg 42 being rotated about the vertical axis of the fixed post 44. The purpose of this arrangement will be hereinafter described in further detail.

A horizontal plate 60 is mounted on the top end of the leg 42 by means of brackets 62 and 64. A base plate 66 overlies the plate 60 and is attached thereto by any convenient means, such as for example bolt and nut assemblies indicated typically at 68.

The base plate 66 in turn supports a pair of upstanding rigid side members 72a and 72b which are interconnected at their rearward ends by an intermediate back plate 74. The side members 72a and 72b have downwardly curving upper edges supporting a pair of laterally spaced downwardly curving tracks or rails 76a and 7612. Support brackets 78a and 78b having inwardly extending upper and lower ears 80 and 82 are attached as at 84 to the outwardly extending undersides of the tracks 76a and 76b. The upper ears 80 are in turn secured by any convenient means such as for example machine screws indicated typically at 86 to a curved cover plate 88, the underside 90 of which is parallel to the top surface of the rails 76a and 76b.

. A plurality of articulated guide segments, which will hereinafter at times be collectively identified by the reference numeral 92, and which are identified individually in the drawings by the reference numerals 92a, 92b, 92c and 92d, are mounted on the guide rails 76a and 76b beneath the cover plate 88. Each guide segment is supported on the rails 76a and 76b by means of rollers indicated typically at 94. The rollers are rotatably mounted on the ends of transverse shafts which also serve to interconnect the guide segments 92 in an articulated manner.

Each of the guide segments 92 is provided with a depending section 96 (see FIG. 4) which is located between and confined against lateral movement by the side plates 72a and 72b. Each depending section forms a guide passageway 98 extending therethrough. The guide passageways 98 ofthe articulated guide segments 92 cooperate in providing the intermediate curved section of a guide pipe generally referred to by the reference numerall00. The exit end of the guide pipe 100 comprises a straight tubular section 102 which is attached to the forward end of guide segment 92d. The opposite end of the guide pipe 100 is comprised of an element 104 which has a flared entry end 106 attached to rearwardly extending ears 108 on the side plates 72a and 72b, and a straight tubular section 110. It will thus be understood that the guide pipe 100 is in fact comprised of a combination of the element 104 which defines the entry end of the pipe, the articulated guide segments 92 which define the curved intermediate section of the pipe, and the tubular section 102 which defines the exit end of the pipe.

The guide segment 92d is further provided with a depending leg 112 which is pivotally connected as at 114 to a pair of laterally spaced intermediate links 116. The links 116 are pivotally connected at their opposite ends as at 118 to a pair of operating arms 120, the latter being pivotally connected at their lower ends by means of a transverse pin 122 to the side plates 72a and 72b. A second hydraulic or pneumatic linear actuator 124 is pivotally supported as at 126 on a bracket assembly 128 extending rearwardly from the backplate 74. The linear actuator 124 has an extensible piston rod 130 which extends through an opening 132 in the back plate 74 and which is pivotally connected as at 134 to the operating arms 120.

In light of the foregoing description, it will now be understood that the apparatus operates in the following manner: at the beginning of a coil forming operation, the guide pipe is adjusted to the maximum extended position shown in FIG. 2. The guide pipe has a delivery axis schematically depicted at x which at this initial position defines a relatively steep entry angle a relative to the horizontal surface of the collecting tub bottom 30, with the delivery end of the guide pipe being spaced above the tub bottom by a distance d. Product enters the guide pipe at the flared entry end 106 of element 104, and thereafter proceeds downwardly along axis x through the tubular section 110, the guide passageways 98 formed in the depending sections 96 of the intermediate articulated guide segments 92, and then finally out through the tubular section 102 forming the delivery end of the guide pipe. As the product emerges from the guide pipe, it enters the annular space 38 where it is formed between the rotating inner and outer elements 26 and 28 into a series of rings which accumulate in cylindrical coil form. The linear actuator 124 is operated to gradually retract the guide pipe as the height of the coil being accumulated in annular space 38 gradually increases. This may be accomplished by any conventional means (not shown), for example by employing a sensing device such as a hot metal detector to observe the front end of an oncoming product length, and to generate a signal which energizes a timer. The timer is equated to the rate of coil buildup and generates a control signal to cause the piston rod 130 of linear actuator 124 to be gradually retracted in response to the increasing height of the coil being formed, thereby acting through arms and links 116 to move the articulated guide segments 92 up along the guide rails 76a and 76b. This in effect axially retracts the delivery end of the guide pipe in relation to its entry end. The rate at which the piston rod is retracted is such that the distance d between the exit end of the guide pipe and the top of the coil being formed remains substantially constant. As this occurs, the entry angle of the product in relation to the horizontal top surface of the coil gradually decreases. Axial retraction of the exit end of the guide pipe in relation to the fixed entry end 104 is accommodated by virtue of the fact that the depending sections 96 of articulated guide segments 92a and 92b gradually insert themselves axially over the tubular section 110. As is shown in FIG. 3, at the end of the coil forming operation, the guide pipe 100 is fully retracted to a position overlying the annular space 38, with its delivery end inclined at a reduced entry angle of a at a distance d above the top surface of a fully formed coil C. This results in a shortening of the overall length of the guide, pipe 100.

By initially introducing the product length deep into the annular space 38 at a relatively steep entry angle a,, the product is directed towards the rotating tub bottom 30 and this in turn obviates the possibility of centrifugal force pulling the product up along the rotating outer wall 28. Axially extending the guide pipe deep into the tub also provides more support for the product, thereby resisting any tendency that the product might have to criss-cross back and forth between the rotating inner pins 26 and the rotating outer wall 28. Both of these factors contribute to increased coil density with an accompanying improvement in coil stability. As the guide pipe is gradually axially retracted, the distance d remains substantially constant while the entry angle gradually decreases to compensate for the growing coil height.

After the coil forming operation has been completed, and the apparatus is in the condition shown in FIG. 3, the linear actuator 48 is operated to rotate the guide pipe assembly 40 about the axis of post 44 to an inoperative position clear of the top of the coil C. Once this has been accomplished, the collecting tub bottom 30 is elevated in a known manner to remove the coil C from the annular space 38, and other known means (not shown) are employed to remove the coil from bottom 30 prior to retracting the same and returning the guide pipe assembly to the position and condition shown in FIG. 1 for resumption of the next coil forming operation.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the inventive concepts herein set forth. For example, the length and curvature of the guide pipe and its support can be changed to suit various operating requirements. Likewise, the manner of axially retracting the guide pipe may also be changed.

It is our intention to cover these and any other changes or modifications which might be made to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of disclosure, and which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereinafter set forth.

We claim:

1. ln a rolling mill, a pouring reel comprising: rotating means for forming an annular space into which a product length issuing from the mill is directed to accumulate in cylindrical coil form; elongated guide means having an entry end adapted to receive the product length and an exit end adapted to deliver the product length into said annular space; and operating means for varying the overall length of said guide means by axially moving said exit end relative to said entry end between an extended position protruding into said space, and a retracted position thereabove.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated guide means is mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the central axis of said annular space, and means for rotating said elongated guide means about said first-mentioned axis to adjust the retracted exit end of said elongated guide means between a position overlying said annular space and another laterally remote position to permit vertical removal of a fully formed coil.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated guide means includes a tubular element at said entry end, rail means fixed relative to said tubular element and extending downwardly along a curved path therefrom, the lower end of said rail means terminating at a level above that of the upper end of said annular space, and a plurality of articulated guide segments mounted on said rail means for movement therealong, the guide segment adjacent said tubular element being suitably dimensioned to be axially received over said tubular element during retraction of said exit end, said exit end being attached to and carried by the guide segment most remote from said. entry end.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said operating means is comprised of a linear hydraulic'actuator connector by intermediate link means to one of said articulated guide segments.

5. A pouring reel for a rolling mill comprising in combination: rotatable radially spaced inner and outer means cooperating with rotatable base means to define an annular space for collecting the product issuing from the rolling mill into a cylindrical coil, an elongated downwardly curving guide means for directing the product into said annular space, said guide means having oppositely disposed entry and exit ends, and means connected to said guide means for varying the length of said guide means by adjusting said exit end relative to said entry end between an extended position protruding downwardly into said annular space and a retracted position thereabove.

6. In a rolling mill, a pouring reel comprising: means for forming an annular space into which a product length issuing from the mill is collected into an upstanding cylindrical coil, the said space being defined in part by a rotating base having means extending vertically therefrom and about which the coil is formed; elongated guide means having an entry end adapted to receive the product length and an exit end adapted to deliver the product length into said annular space, the said entry end communicating with said exit end through an intermediate assembly of articulated guide segments, which assembly is connected to said exit end and mounted for movement along downwardly curving rail means; and operating means connected to said assembly for adjusting said exit end relative to said entry end between a lowered position protruding into said chamber and a raised position located thereabove. 

1. In a rolling mill, a pouring reel comprising: rotating means for forming an annular space into which a product length issuing from the mill is directed to accumulate in cylindrical coil form; elongated guide means having an entry end adapted to receive the product length and an exit end adapted to deliver the product length into said annular space; and operating means for varying the overall length of said guide means by axially moving said exit end relative to said entry end between an extended position protruding into said space, and a retracted position thereabove.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated guide means is mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the central axis of said annular space, and means for rotating said elongated guide means about said first-mentioned axis to adjust the retracted exit end of said elongated guide means between a position overlying said annular space and another laterally remote position to permit vertical removal of a fully formed coil.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated guide means includes a tubular element at said entry end, rail means fixed relative to said tubular element and extending downwardly along a curved path therefrom, the lower end of said rail means terminating at a level above that of the upper end of said annular space, and a plurality of articulated guide segments mounted on said rail means for movement therealong, the guide segment adjacent said tubular element being suitably dimensioned to be axially received over said tubular element during retraction of said exit end, said exit end being attached to and carried by the guide segment most remote from said entry end.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said operating means is comprised of a linear hydraulic actuator connector by intermediate link means to one of said articulated guide segments.
 5. A pouring reel for a rolling mill comprising in combination: rotatable radially spaced inner and outer means cooperating with rotatable base means to define an annular space for collecting the product issuing from the rolling mill into a cylindrical coil, an elongated downwardly curving guide means for directing the product into said annular space, said guide means having oppositely disposed entry and exit ends, and means connected to said guide means for varying the length of said guide means by adjusting said exit end relative to said entry end between an extended position protruding downwardly into said annular space and a retracted position thereabove.
 6. In a rolling mill, a pouring reel comprising: means for forming an annular space into which a product length issuing from the mill is collected into an upstanding cylindrical coil, the said space being defined in part by a rotating base having means extending vertically therefrom and about which the coil is formed; elongated guide means having an entry end adapted to receive the product length and an exit end adapted to deliver the product length into said annular space, the said entry end communicating with said exit end through an intermediate assembly of articulated guide segments, which assembly is connected to said exit end and mounted for movement along downwardly curving rail means; and operating means connected to said asSembly for adjusting said exit end relative to said entry end between a lowered position protruding into said chamber and a raised position located thereabove. 